Representatives of the County Assessor office can explain the basis for your assessment and will review any information you may have relating to the value of your property. The County of San Luis Obispo Assessor's Office can be reached at (805) 781-5643.

Complete the Assessment Appeals Application form.

Certain filing time frames must be met as shown below: 

• Regular Assessment:  If you are appealing the value of your property as of January 1st of the current year, the filing period is from July 2nd through September 15th. 
• Supplemental Assessment:  If you are appealing the value based on a supplemental notice sent to you because your property had a change of ownership or new construction, you must file within sixty (60) days after the date printed on the supplemental notice or its postmark date, whichever is later. If such notice is not received within fifteen (15) days of the deadline filing date, the filing date is within sixty (60) days of the date printed on the supplemental tax bill or its postmark date, whichever is later. 
• Roll Change:  If you are appealing when the Assessor has changed the value on a prior year’s roll, you must file within sixty (60) days after the mailing date printed on the assessment notice, or the postmark date of the notice, whichever is later. If such notice is not received within 15 days of the deadline filing date, the filing date is within sixty (60) days of the date printed on the tax bill or its postmark date, whichever is later.  
• Escape Assessment:  If you are appealing the value for property which the Assessor discovered was under-assessed or not assessed on a prior year’s roll, you must file within sixty (60) days after the mailing date printed on the assessment notice, or the postmark date of the notice, whichever is later. If such notice is not received within 15 days of the deadline filing date, the filing date is within sixty (60) days of the date printed on the tax bill or its postmark date, whichever is later.  
• Calamity Reassessment:  If you disagree with the value stated on a reassessment notice sent to you because your property was damaged due to a natural disaster or other calamity (e.g. earthquake, flood), you must file within six (6) months after the mailing of the assessment notice. 

View the State Board of Equalization's Assessment Appeals Information Booklet  for more information about appeal filing periods.

Filing an Assessment Appeal does not release you from your responsibility to pay your property taxes. If you are entitled to a return of your paid property taxes when your appeal is resolved, the Auditor-Controller will automatically process a refund. Failure to pay taxes before they become delinquent will expose you to penalties and interest charges.

*NOTE: If the final filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a County holiday, an application that is mailed and postmarked on the next business day shall be deemed to have been filed timely.

Applications may be filed in person at the Administrative Office or by mail, along with the appropriate fees. Please refer to this Fee Schedule.  

A formal exchange of information, where both you and the Assessor trade the information that will be presented at the hearing, is optional. You should submit your request to exchange information to both the Administrative and Assessor offices not less than thirty (30) days prior to your scheduled hearing. The Assessor may also request an exchange of information. Please visit the State Board of Equalization's Assessment Appeals Information Booklet for more information.

Appeals must be heard within two (2) years from the date you file your assessment appeal application. You will be notified forty-five (45) days in advance of your hearing by the Assessment Appeals Clerk via mail. The applicant or the applicant’s agent shall confirm attendance at the hearing at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the hearing date using the method designated in the notice of hearing. If the applicant has failed to confirm attendance, it shall be assumed that the applicant will not appear and the hearing will not proceed.

If the applicant or the applicant’s agent appears at the scheduled hearing and has not confirmed attendance at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the hearing date, the hearing may be rescheduled to a later date or denied. 

Failure to appear at the scheduled hearing may result in the application being denied for lack of appearance unless a postponement has been requested.  Hearing confirmation shall only apply to hearings where notice is given no less than forty-five (45) days prior to the hearing.

Hearings are open to the public. Please review the information on how to prepare for your hearing.

Should you wish to reschedule or postpone your hearing, contact the Assessment Appeals Clerk at least twenty-one (21) days prior to your scheduled hearing. 

Review the information on how to prepare for your hearing. This information is also included in your notice of hearing packet you will receive forty-five (45) days prior to your hearing.

The Assessment Appeals Board is a quasi-judicial body composed of three (3) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Members have professional experience in the fields of real estate, property appraisal, accounting, law, or similar areas. The Assessment Appeals Board hears evidence on property assessment disputes between taxpayers and the County Assessor before deciding upon the assessed value of real and personal property in question. The assessment appeal process provides for the ’equalization,’ or the fairness of the assessment, of a property's value.

Upon hearing all the evidence, an Assessment Appeals Board is required by law to determine the value of your property, which means that they can leave the value the same, decrease the value, or increase the value of your property. An Assessment Appeals Board is not bound by the value presented by you or the County Assessor. The Assessment Appeals Board decision is final, and your only recourse would be to appeal their decision to Superior Court. Visit State Board of Equalization's Assessment Appeals Information Booklet for more information.

All requests to withdraw an application must be filed with the Assessment Appeals Clerk using the Assessment Appeal Withdrawal form (BOE-305-WD) for action by the Assessment Appeals Board. In the event the withdrawal is not received by the scheduled hearing date, the Clerk will take those applications to the Board for denial.

If the Assessor and the Applicant come to an agreement a Stipulation form will be issued by the Assessor's office and will be presented to the Board for acceptance. If not accepted, the Application will be set for hearing.

NOTE: Assessment Appeals Fees are non-refundable.

The Assessment Appeals Board will advise you of their decision at the conclusion of the hearing or take the matter under submission. You will be notified of their decision by mail at a later date. The decision of the Assessment Appeals Board is final. A challenge of the Board's decision must be filed in Superior Court within six (6) months of the decision. Contact the State Board of Equalization for more information.